Laundry Machine Having Lower Reservoir and Washing Processes for a Laundry Machine

ABSTRACT

A laundry machine and a washing process allow the storage of water from prior washes, in order to minimize the consumption of water destined for laundry washing. According to an embodiment, the laundry machine includes an impeller ( 201 ); a wash tub ( 202 ); a mechanical and/or electric drive element of the impeller and of the tub; and at least a tank ( 203 ) encircling the wash tub. There is additionally a reservoir ( 300 ) in fluid communication ( 250 ) with the tank and disposed below the tank and the wash tub and encircling, at least partially, the mechanical and/or electric drive element of the impeller and the tub.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains, in a general manner, to laundry machines and,more particularly, the invention pertains to a laundry machine and to awashing process that allows the storage of water from prior washes, inorder to minimize the consumption of water destined for laundry washing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laundry machines are domestic or industrial utensils widely used toassist in cleaning clothing or fabrics. Among the laundry machines,certain constructive embodiments are known, such as small tanks, frontloading machines and top loading machines.

The so-called “small tanks” refer, generally, to a device substantiallyin the shape of a common tank, but which have a small turbine coupled toa motor, both mounted on the lower portion of the tank. The motor withthe turbine just has the function of agitating the water contained onthe inside, in order to assist in the process of washing the fabrics,but other automated functions related to the washing cycle, such as therinse, spin etc. are not present. These small tanks are normally devicesof simple construction, and generally also do not present specificcompartments to store and dispense products for cleaning and fabriccare, such as soap, softener, bleach etc.

In relation to the washing machines that comprise full wash cycles, suchas the steps of washing, rinsing, spinning, etc., front loading and toploading are the ones mainly known.

Front loading machines present the opening and door to access inside themachine, where the wash tub is contained, in the front part of themachine, while in top loading ones, access inside the washingcompartment is made by an opening in the upper portion of the machine.

However, the working principle of these laundry machine models issimilar, and consists of a perforated tub, in order to allow the passageof water and/or of the cleaning agents of the fabrics, and the agitationof the fabrics inside the wash tub in two directions, both clockwise andanti-clockwise. After washing and rinsing, normally there is a spincycle, which is designed to eliminate the excess water contained in thefabrics, so as to facilitate the subsequent drying thereof. In the spincycle, the tub rotates in just one direction at a relatively highrotation, such as 500, 1,000 RPM or more.

Although the front and top loading machines present similar workingprinciples, as described above, there is a substantial difference intheir constructions. For front loading machines, the rotation axis ofthe tub is in a horizontal position centralized thereto, and the tubmoves and the laundry agitate inside the tub due to the action ofgravity, that is, the fabrics contained inside the wash tub have anatural tendency to displace to the lower part of the tub while it isturning. Wings mounted on the inner sides of the tub can also be used toassist the agitation of laundry.

On the other hand, in top loading machines, the wash tub generally isstopped, and the rotation axis of the drive motor is in a verticalposition. Due to the action of gravity, since clothes tend toagglomerate at the bottom of the tub, it is necessary to create amechanical action in order to assist the agitation of the clothes.Accordingly, said top loading machines generally present a centralelement, mounted inside the tub and coinciding with the centerline ofthe rotary axis of the drive motor. This element can be an impeller. Theimpeller, as the name itself suggests, has the function of creating amovement of the water inside the tub and creating a mechanical action inthe clothes in order to assist in the cleaning of the fabrics and avoidaccumulating in the lower portion of the tub. For this purpose, it iscommon for impellers to have hydrodynamic profiles to promote agitationof the water and of the fabrics inside the tub when immersed in water.

Today there is a growing concern for so-called ‘green’ products andservices or, in other words, products and/or services that help minimizethe environmental impact by their use or manufacturing. The consumersare evermore appreciative of products and services that beardifferentiating aspects relating to protection or to care with theenvironment. Oftentimes, these “green” characteristics can be thecompetitive difference between one product or service in relation to itscompetitors.

In the case of laundry washing machines, there is also a growing need tooffer a product that consumes a lesser quantity of water during awashing cycle, to minimize the environmental impact relating to thewashing and to the care of the fabrics.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,843 presents a laundry machine that usesreservoirs mounted on the side of the machine to store and reuse thewater from prior washes. However, in the embodiment shown in thisdocument, the size, and particularly the width, of the machine issignificantly increased due to the water storage tanks, which makes thedevice extremely large and hardly practical to use, chiefly forinhabitants of large urban centers, who tend to live in ever smallerconstructed areas.

Publication WO 2008/079070 discloses a laundry machine that is designedto save water during washing, but the storage of the water is onlycarried out in the tank that encircles the wash tub, and accordinglymakes use of pumps to maintain the level of water inside the tank belowthe level of the tub to allow the recirculation of water. The proposedsolution, therefore, is hardly practical because it requires theconstant use of recirculation pumps and is limited in relation to thequantity of water that can be stored.

The present invention is designed to overcome these drawbacks, amongothers.

SUMMARY OF SELECTED INVENTIVE ASPECTS

In this sense, in order to overcome the drawbacks cited above, amongothers, in an aspect, the invention proposes a laundry machine thatcomprises:

at least an impeller;

at least a wash tub;

at least a mechanical and/or electric drive element of said impeller andof said tub; and

at least a tank encircling said wash tub, characterized by additionallycomprising a reservoir in fluid communication with said tank anddisposed below said tank and said wash tub and encircling, at leastpartially, said mechanical and/or electric drive element of saidimpeller and said tub.

According to alternative or additional embodiments of the presentinvention, the laundry machine may comprise, alone or in combination,the following characteristics:

-   -   said mechanical and/or electric drive element of said impeller        and of said tub is a drive motor;    -   said mechanical and/or electric drive element of said impeller        and of said tub is a reduction gearbox coupled to said motor by        way of a clutch;    -   said wash tub is a substantially hole-free tub;    -   said wash tub is a tub with holes;    -   said reservoir is a separate part of said tank;    -   said reservoir is a solidary part of said tank;    -   said reservoir and said tank are a single part;    -   said reservoir comprises at least an outflow for water        recirculating and draining;    -   said reservoir comprises two outflows, one for recirculating        water in fluid communication with said tub and for draining the        water;    -   said outflow in fluid communication with said tub is also in        fluid communication with a device to store and dispense cleaning        agents;    -   said machine additionally comprises an inflow of water from the        mains;    -   said inflow of water from the mains is in fluid communication        with a device to store and dispense cleaning agents and with        said tank;    -   said machine also comprises a cover fixed on the upper portion        of said tub and which covers up the space existing between the        tub and the tank;    -   said machine additionally comprises a pressure switch to        determine the quantity of water existing inside the reservoir;    -   said machine also comprises a recirculation pump in fluid        communication with an outflow of the reservoir and said tub;    -   said machine additionally comprises a draining pump in fluid        communication with said second outflow of the reservoir and the        sewage system; and    -   said machine is a top-loading washing machine.

The invention also pertains to a washing process for a laundry machineas defined above, wherein the process comprises the steps of:

(a) verifying the existence of water in the reservoir, before startingthe washing cycle; and

(b) filling the reservoir with water from the mains, before the transferstep (c), if there is no water in the reservoir; or

(c) transferring water from the reservoir to the inside of the tub, ifthere is water in the reservoir; and

(d) carrying out the step of washing or rinsing; and

(e) spinning to withdraw the water from the inside of the tub; and

(f) verifying whether the spin of step (e) is the last spin of thewashing cycle; and

(g) draining the water, if it is not the last spin and return to step(b); or

(h) storing the water, if it is the last spin.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the washing processfor a laundry machine as described above comprises the steps of:

(a) verifying the existence of water in the reservoir, before startingthe washing cycle; and

(b) filling the reservoir with water from the mains, before the transfer(c), if there is no water in the reservoir; or

(c) transferring water from the reservoir to the inside of the tub, ifthere is water in the reservoir; and

(d) perform the step of washing and/or rinsing; and

(e) spinning to withdraw the water from the inside of the tub; and

(f) verifying whether the water withdrawn from the tub of step (e) isthe water from the first wash; and

(g) draining the water (514), if it is the water from the first wash andreturn to step (a); or

(h) verifying whether the spin of step (e) is the last spin of thewashing cycle; and

(i) draining the quantity of water exceeding the reservoir storagecapacity, if it is not the last spin of the washing cycle, and return tostep (a) or (c); or

(j) storing the water, if it is the last spin of the washing cycle.

According to additional or alternative embodiments of the processes ofthe invention, the following characteristics, alone or in combination,may be present.

-   -   the process additionally comprises the step of (i) verifying        whether softener was used in the washing cycle, if the spin of        step (e) was the last of the washing cycle;    -   the process additionally comprises the step of (j) draining the        water, if softener was used in the washing cycle, verified in        step (i);    -   the process additionally comprises the step of completing the        water level with water from the mains after step (c);    -   the process additionally comprises the step of draining water        from the reservoir after step (c); and    -   the process additionally comprises the step of cleaning and/or        sterilizing the stored water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention shall now be described in relation to its particularembodiments, drawing references to the accompanying drawings. Saiddrawings are schematic, and their sizes and proportions may notcorrespond to reality, since they are merely designed to describe theinvention in a didactic manner. Therefore, the drawings presented do nothave a limitative character beyond that defined by the claims ahead,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a top loading laundry machine;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-section of the inside of a laundry machine as peran embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a posterior perspective view of the inside of the machine ofFIG. 1, as per an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is another side cross-section of the tank and of the tub of themachine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a washing process as per an embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a washing process as per another embodiment ofthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a laundry machine (100), particularlya top loading laundry machine for domestic use. Said machines generallycomprise frontal and posterior side panels (101, 102) which form thecabinet, an upper opening (104) generally having a lid and whereby it ispossible to have access to the inside of the wash tub, and a controlpanel (103), in which there are disposed the commands for selecting thewashing cycles, according to the user preference or according to thetypes of fabrics that are washed, such as delicate fabrics, heavywashing etc. There can also be provided a drawer or compartment (110)which is part of a device to store and dispense cleaning agents (301),destined for the storage and dispensing of cleaning agents or fabriccare.

According to the present specification, the term “cleaning agents”should be interpreted as all and any products destined for cleaningand/or fabric care, such as, but not limited to, soap powder, liquiddetergent, softener, bleach etc. which are dispensed inside the wash tubin a controlled manner according to the step of the washing cycle.

Further according to the present specification, the term “washing cycle”defines one or more steps that comprise a cleaning cycle and fabric carein a laundry machine, such as, but not limited to, washing, rinsing,spinning, drying, etc.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of a top-loading washingmachine, such as the machine represented in FIG. 1, but according to anembodiment of the invention. There are represented therein the panels(101 and 102), the upper opening (104) with a lid, the tank (203), thewash tub (202) and the impeller (201). However, for didactic purposes,for an improved understanding of the object of the invention, someconstructive examples were omitted and in the following drawings suchas, for example, structural elements, fixing the tank and the wash tub,and mechanical and/or electrical drive elements of the impeller and ofthe tub, which generally comprise an electric motor coupled to aplanetary reduction gearbox by means of a clutch. Alternatively, aninduction motor can be used, powered by frequency inverters, wherebyeliminating the clutch. Said drive elements of the impeller and of thetub are known to persons skilled in the art.

Still in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2, the laundry machine according to theinvention, as mentioned, comprises an upper opening (104), through whichthere are inserted and withdrawn the fabrics for washing, a wash tub(202) and an impeller (201). A tank (203) encircles the wash tub and, inthe lower portion, below the wash tub, the impeller and the tank, thereis provided a motor, generally an electric motor, associated to a clutchand reducer combination (not represented) which make the drive both ofthe impeller and the wash tub, as per the cycle in progress, be it thewashing cycle, in which the impeller agitates in alternative rotarymovements inside the wash tub, or in the spin cycle, in which theimpeller and the tub rotate solitarily generally in just one turningdirection. These mechanical and/or electrical drive elements of theimpeller and of the wash tub are generally aligned according to thevertical central shaft of the impeller.

Such characteristics thus far described are common to the majority oftop loading laundry machines known in the state of the art.

However, the invention also proposes that the laundry machine comprisesthe water storage reservoir (300), particularly provided below the tank(203) and the wash tub (202) and encircling, at least in part, theclutch and reducer combination as well as the electrical motor (notshown), in other words, encircling the mechanical and/or electricaldrive elements of the tub and/or of the impeller.

As in the illustrated embodiment, the reservoir (300) is an independentpart of the tank (203), but both the reservoir and the tank can beshaped into a solidary part or the reservoir (300) may even be formed inthe tank itself and, in this case, there would be no walls separatingthe reservoir of the tank.

As can be seen, particularly in relation to FIGS. 2 and 5, there isprovided an empty space between the wash tub (202) and the tank (203),both in relation to the side of the wash tub, and in relation to thelower portion thereof. There is also provided a fluid communicationbetween the tank (203) and the reservoir (300) for storing water, by wayof a conduit (250), for example, as can be better visualized in FIG. 3.

The laundry machine according to the invention also comprises thefollowing technical characteristics, which will be better understood inthe description of its mode of operation ahead.

There is provided an inflow of water (302) which is connected to thewater feed from the mains, for example, by way of a hose (not shown) byconventional means. Alternatively, there can be provided two inflows ofwater (not represented), a cold water inflow and another for hot water,which may come from the residential or industrial pipes system. A valve,or a double valve (303, 304), such as solenoid valves, are disposedafter the inflow of water from the mains to control the inflow of waterfrom the mains to the machine. The inflow of water from the mains to themachine can be by two forms: passing through the device to store anddispense cleaning agents (301) by way of a conduit (305) which connects,on one side, to one of the valves (303) and, on the other side, to thedevice for storing and dispensing cleaning products; or wherein thewater from the mains directed directly to the tank (203) also by way ofa conduit (306) connected, on the one hand, to the other valve (304)and, on the other hand, to the cover of the tank (205), which consistsof a ring fixed to the tank and which covers up the space existingbetween the tub and the tank in the upper portion of both.

In the lower portion of the machine, according to the invention, thereis provided in a water storage tank (300) two outflows (210, 220). Afirst water recirculation outflow (210) which is connected between saidtank (300) by way of a conduit (211) to the recirculation pump (212).From the recirculation pump, a second conduit (213) extends which, inits upper portion, is divided into two conduits (215, 216) of smallerdiameter, a first conduit (215) that is in fluid communication with thedevice to store and dispense cleaning agents (300), and a second conduit(216) which extends to a water outflow mouthpiece (217), which is facingthe inside of the tub (202).

The division of the conduit (213) into two conduit segments (215, 216)of smaller diameter can be carried out by way of shaping in polymericalmaterial of the conduit itself or, also, by using a Y-shaped connector(214), such as represented in this embodiment.

Particularly, the mouthpiece (217) of the present invention is amouthpiece that directs the flow of water to the walls of the wash tub,so as to assist in the rinsing step of the fabrics.

In the lowermost portion of the reservoir (300), there is provided asecond outflow (220) for draining water that is potentially contained insaid reservoir and that is not reused. This outflow may be in fluidcommunication with the water draining pump (222) by means of a conduit(221) connected, on the one side, to the drainage outflow (220) of thereservoir and, on the other, to the pump (222). The water may be drainedto the sewage system by way of a specific conduit (not represented).

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, instead of using twopumps (a water recirculation pump (212) and another water draining pump(222)) in communication with two outflows, a single pump can be usedthat acts both for recirculating and for draining, and a valve can beselect the path for directing the flow of water, whether to the insideof the tub or to the sewage system. In this embodiment, the reservoirmay, potentially, comprise just one outflow.

The water reservoir (300), as can be verified from the representation inthe drawings of the embodiment, is particularly a substantiallycylindrical reservoir that contains an empty space in its centralportion. The cylindrical shape allows the reservoir to adjust in thelower portion of a tank of a top-loading washing machine, whereas thecentral empty space enables all the mechanical and/or electrical driveelements of the impeller and/or of the tub (such as the electricalmotor, the clutch and the planetary reduction gearbox) can pass throughthe reservoir without interfering with it.

The invention shall now be described in terms of its mode of operation,drawing reference to FIGS. 2 and 5 and, particularly, to FIG. 6, whichrepresents a flowchart of a wash process using a laundry machineaccording to the invention.

The cycle begins (501) by verifying whether there is water stored forwashing inside the reservoir, step (502). The verification of theexistence or not of water contained inside the reservoir can be done byway of a pressure switch (240), which consists of a mechanical orelectrical device for measuring pressure in a vase, mounted on one ofthe walls of the reservoir (300). The pressure switch can also estimatethe quantity of water contained inside the reservoir and, accordingly,define whether it will be necessary to complement with more water fromthe mains to attain the necessary level for washing or, alternatively,draining the excess water that is inside the reservoir, as explainedahead.

If there is no water inside the reservoir, the tank is filled by feedingwater from the mains, in step (503), which can be both by way of asingle inflow of cold water or, alternatively, by an inflow of hot wateror by both. In an alternative embodiment, the laundry machine comprisesjust an inflow of cold water, but has a resistance to heat the water.

Thus, one of both valves (303, 304) are opened and water begins to flow,on the one side, to the inside of the tank (203) by way of the conduit(306) and, on the other side, it flows to the device to store anddispense cleaning agents (301) to the inside of the tub (202) by way ofanother conduit (305). The opening of one or both valves shall depend onthe step in which the washing cycle is found. Generically, the washingcycle consists of the steps of: (1) washing, in which a cleaning agentis added, such as powder soap or liquid detergent; (2) rinsing, in whichclean water is used to withdraw the cleaning agent of the fabrics,followed, alternatively, by a step in which there is added a quantity ofsoftener; and (3) spinning, which consists of withdrawing the excesswater from the fabrics. Both the washing steps and the rinsing andspinning steps can be repeated one or more times during the washingcycle, as well as the step of spinning can be alternated with one ormore steps of rinsing or washing. In this sense, the valve linking thewater from the mains to the inside of the device to store and dispensecan be opened only when on that washing cycle there is need to add acleaning agent, such as soap, softener or bleach. Otherwise, if it isjust the simple rinsing step, in which no cleaning agent is added, thevalve may not be opened, and water is inserted only inside the tank,without passing through the storage and dispensing device.

Pursuant to the embodiment illustrated here, one of the valves (303) isopened to allow the inflow of water from the mains to the inside of thetank (203), and the second valve (304) is only destined to dispense thesoftener of the device to store and dispense cleaning agents, when thewashing cycle arrives at the step of dispensing the softener in the tub(202), as explained ahead.

The device to store and dispense cleaning agents (300) can be any deviceknown in the state of the art, comprising specific compartments to storethe cleaning agent and valves or connectors so that the water isreleased inside one or more compartments, depending on the washingcycle, and water containing the cleaning agent is poured into the insideof the tub (202). Put otherwise, if it is the first washing cycle, watercan be directed to the soap storage compartment. If it is the finalrinsing step, it can be directed to the compartment where the softeneris stored, and so forth. Said devices for storing and dispensingcleaning agents are known in the state of the art, which is why no moredetailed description thereof shall be made during the course of thepresent specification.

As mentioned at the start of the process, if there is no water in thetank or reservoir (300), the tank begins to be filled by the watercoming from the mains. As can be noted, the water is not directeddirectly to the wash tub, as is common in the laundry machines of thestate of the art, but to the tank (203) which encircles the tub. Thetank, as already described, is in fluid communication with the reservoirthrough the conduit (250) and, accordingly, the water from the mainswhich is dispensed inside the tank runs therefrom to the inside of thereservoir (300) by way of the conduit (250).

Since the water filling is done directly in the tank (203) and,consequently, in the reservoir (300), the laundry machine of theinvention, advantageously, comprises a tub (202) substantially withoutopenings or holes or, in other words, a tub that does not comprise afluid communication with the tank when the cycle is in the washing step.Hence, particularly, the tub of the machine of the present inventiondoes not present substantially any fluid communication with the tankand, therefore, the water that is inserted inside the tank is notdiverted to or enters into contact with the inside of the tub.

However, in an alternative embodiment, the tub of the laundry machineaccording to the invention can be a conventional tub having holes and,consequently, in fluid communication with the tank.

Once the desired water level is attained for the washing, the filling ofwater from the mains is stopped, by closing the valves (303, 304), forexample. The desired quantity of water can be determined by the pressureswitch (240), as mentioned above, and also be the user, since manylaundry machines have a command by which the user can choose the desiredlevel or the quantity of water for the washing. In an alternativeembodiment, this level may be determined automatically by the machine,depending on the quantity of closing inserted in the tub. Some laundrymachines have systems for determining the quantity of clothing insertedin the tub and, therefore, may, by automated means, determine thequantity of water necessary for the washing cycle.

The water contained in the tank and, potentially, in the reservoir, ifthe water level exceeds the capacity of the reservoir, is thentransferred to the inside of the tub, step (504), by way of therecirculation pump (212), passing through the conduit (213) and itsbifurcation (215, 216). As it is possible to verify, part of the waterwill be directed directly to the outflow mouthpiece (217), and part ofthe water will be directed to the device to store and dispense cleaningagents (301), which may be necessary if the first cycle is performedwith reused water, as explained at the end of this description.

Particularly, the water coming from the reservoir which is diverted tothe device to store and dispense cleaning agents (301) by the conduit(215) passes only through the compartment destined to receive soap, onlyto dispense soap inside the tub (202), whereas the softener is dispensedby the water coming from the mains by opening the valve (304).

The tub (202) is then filled with water and the process of washing thefabrics begins, step (505), by the alternate movement of the impellerand, potentially, also of the wash tub.

After finalizing the washing cycle, it is necessary the drain the waterfrom the inside of the tub. Since there is no fluid communicationbetween the tub and the tank or reservoir, draining the water containedinside the tub is performed when the tub in spun, step (506),particularly at growing angular speed, and the water contained thereinwill be impelled against its walls and, due to the centripetal force,naturally the water will tend to rise up the inner walls of the tub inthe sense of the opening existing between the tub and the tank, in theupper portion protected by the cover (205) which, in turn, prevents thatwater from squirting outside the tub and, at the same time, directs itdirectly against the inside of the tank (203). The water used in washingthen returns to the tank and, consequently, to the reservoir (300).

Posteriorly, it is verified whether the spin performed to eliminate thewater from the tub is the last spin occurred after the washing process,step (507). In other words, whether the tub will be filled again, fornew step of washing and/or rinsing or, else, if it was the last rinseperformed during the washing process and the respective spin.

If it is not the last spin, the water used is totally drained, step(508), and the process is resumed in step (502), to fill up again thetank and the reservoir from the mains, and the cycle follows on asdescribed above.

On the other hand, if it is the last spin, the water from the last rinsecan be stored in the reservoir, step (509), and used in the next washingcycle.

In this sense, when the next washing cycle starts, the process canidentify whether there is water stored in the reservoir, step (502), andbegin filling the tub by way of the recirculation pump (504), instead ofthe mains, and accordingly, by bifurcation (215, 216) of the conduit(213), part of the water is directed to the device to store and dispensecleaning agents (301), such that soap powder, for example, is alsodispensed in the tub (202), and part of the water is directed directlyto the tub through the mouthpiece (217), and the process as alreadydescribed above begins.

In an alternative embodiment, it is verified whether softener was usedin the last rinsing cycle, step (511). If softener was used, the wateris then drained, in step (510), and the washing cycle is finalized,keeping the reservoir empty. On the other hand, if softener was not usedin the last rinsing cycle, the water is stored (509) in the reservoirfor the next wash. This alternative embodiment can be desirable whenthere is no wish to store water in the reservoir with cleaning agents.The verification of the use, or not, of softener in the last rinsingcycle can be carried out, for example, by means of a command by the userin the sense that softener is not used in that washing cycle and,accordingly, softener is not dispensed by the device to store anddispense cleaning agents inside the tub. Particularly, as per theembodiment described herein, if softener is not used in the last step ofthe washing cycle, the valve (304) does not open and, therefore, wateris not directed to the device to store and dispense cleaning agents(301). As described above, the conduit (305) connected, on the one hand,to the valve (304) and on the other hand to the device to store anddispense cleaning agents (301) is destined only for dispensing thesoftener of said device. Naturally, alternative embodiments may beproposed such as, for example, having a device to store and dispensecleaning agents (301) having valves to dispense selectively the cleaningagent.

In another alternative embodiment of the process of the invention, asrepresented in FIG. 7, the water that was withdrawn from the tub byspinning, step (506), is not totally drained from the tank and thereservoir, but only the excess water in relation to the reservoirstorage capacity is drained, and the water can be reused for the nextstep of the washing cycle, and the process begins in steps (502) and(503) by reusing the residual water from the prior cycle which was keptin the reservoir (300). In this embodiment, therefore, the processfollows the same steps 501 to 506 described above. However, itadditionally comprises the step of checking whether the water that waswithdrawn from the tub is the water of the first wash, step (513). Sincegenerally the water of the first wash is saturated with soap surfactantsused in the washing and with dirt of the fabrics, it would not beadvantageous to reuse the water from the first washing step of thefabrics. In this case, the water is totally drained from the tank andthe reservoir, step (514) and the process restarts in step (502). If itis not the water of the first wash, it is checked whether it is the lastspin carried out in the washing cycle, step (515). If it is not the lastspin, there is drained only a quantity of water that exceeds thereservoir storage capacity (300), in step (516), and the processrestarts in steps (502) and (504) by transferring the water contained inthe reservoir to the inside of the wash tub to the next step of thewashing cycle and the process again follows steps (505) to (515). If itis the last spin inside the washing cycle, the water is then stored inthe reservoir for the next washing cycle, step (509). In this samealternative embodiment, the process may comprise the other steps alreadydescribed of checking for the existence of softener and drainage, ornot, of the water, steps (510) and (511).

This embodiment described above is particularly advantageous since italways keeps the reservoir (300) full and, with this, the weightexercised by the water on the bottom of the tank and wash tubcombination acts as a counterweight to balance the washing combination(tub and tank) at the point of spinning. Accordingly, the laundrymachine and the process of the invention allow the spin to be carriedout with lesser vibration, chiefly at the start of the spin step, inwhich the tub is continuously accelerated from rest to maximum spinspeed. Precisely at the start of the spin step is when the mostunbalancing of the washing combination occurs due to the fabricscontained in the tub, and the full reservoir helps maintain more uniformbalance of the washing combination.

In another alternative embodiment, the water stored in the reservoir maynot be sufficient to complete the level of water necessary inside thetub, then the process of the invention may also comprise the step ofcompleting the water level in the tub with water from the mains, step(512), after emptying the reservoir.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the water contained in thereservoir can be in a greater volume than that necessary for the washingcycle, and then the process of the invention also comprises the step ofdraining the excess water contained in the reservoir, also step (512).

According to another alternative embodiment, the water stored in thereservoir may undergo a treatment, such as a cleaning or sterilizationtreatment, as described, for example, in patent application BR2011/0045062, entitled “Washing machine having an external reservoirwith an integrated water treatment system by antimicrobial agent”.

It must be considered that although the invention has been described inrelation to a particular embodiment, persons skilled in the art will beable to propose a series of structural or application alterationswithout straying from the principles disclosed herein. Therefore, theaccompanying claims should be interpreted as encompassing all and anyequivalents that fall within the object of the invention.

1. A laundry machine comprising: an impeller; a wash tub; a mechanicaland/or electric drive element for driving said impeller; a tankencircling said wash tub; and; a reservoir in fluid communication withsaid tank and disposed below said tank and said wash tub and arcuatelyencircling said mechanical and/or electric drive element from one sidethereof at least to an opposite side thereof.
 2. A laundry machine, asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said wash tub is a substantially hole-freetub.
 3. A laundry machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tub is ahole-free tub.
 4. A laundry machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidreservoir is formed separately from said tank.
 5. A laundry machine, asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir is formed as part of saidtank.
 6. A laundry machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidreservoir and said tank are formed as a single part.
 7. A laundrymachine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir comprises anoutflow for water recirculating and draining.
 8. A laundry machine, asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir comprises two outflows, onefor recirculating water in fluid communication with said tub and one fordraining water in fluid communication with a sewage system.
 9. A laundrymachine, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said outflow in fluidcommunication with said tub is also in fluid communication with a deviceto store and dispense cleaning agents.
 10. A laundry machine, as claimedin claim 1, wherein said machine additionally comprises a water inflowconnections to water mains.
 11. A laundry machine, as claimed in claim1, wherein said machine additionally comprises two water inflowconnections to water mains.
 12. A laundry machine, as claimed in claim10, wherein said water inflow connection to the water mains is in fluidcommunication with a device to store and dispense cleaning agents andwith said tank.
 13. A laundry machine, as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid machine additionally comprises a cover fixed on the upper portionof said tub and which covers up the space existing between the tub andthe tank.
 14. A laundry machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidmachine additionally comprises a pressure switch to determine thequantity of water inside the reservoir.
 15. A laundry machine, asclaimed in claim 7, additionally comprising a pump in fluidcommunication with said outflow and a valve to divert the flow of waterto the tub or to a sewage system.
 16. A laundry machine, as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said machine additionally comprises a recirculationpump in fluid communication with said recirculation outflow from thereservoir and said tub and a draining pump in fluid communication withsaid drainage outflow from the reservoir and the sewage system.
 17. Alaundry machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine is atop-loading washing machine. 18-24. (canceled)